I had a bottle of Tactical Nuclear Penguin a couple of years ago when it was the strongest, and it tasted like a a dark beer with whiskey poured in it. Never again shall I mix the two. Not in the same mug anyway.

If you like good beer, don't judge them all off of one bad experience. If I had done that, I would have quit after my first beer (Stroh's). Stroh's literally translates to "piss straight from the cock". I'm pretty sure anyway... But I have no evidence to back that up.

mortimer_ford:WhippingBoy: I used to be in to craft beer. But now, things have gotten so "extreme" it's absolutely absurd, so I've stopped supporting craft breweries.

- If I want a good beer, I'll make it myself- If I buy beer, from now on it's PBR or Old Milwaukee (or the cheapest macro brew then have on tap)

/way to ruin it for everyone, jerks!

There's still good micro brews out there. Just stay away from the stuff named after sexual innuendos.

I realize that there's excellent micros out there. I just refuse to support an industry that's in the process of switching from making good beer to making gimmicks or yet another IPA. Where before it was quality, now marketing and bullshiat are now starting to dominate the craft beer industry.

It goes from beer to liquor at the moment it stops being brewed and starts being distilled.

Applejack is a liquor whereas hard cider is (not quite a) beer. Once you start artificially aiding the yeast, it's liquor. About the only counter-example I can think of is port, which is really a mixture of wine and liquor, and basically scoots by via grandfather clause.

Well, subby, it doesn't really matter how strong it is, if it hasn't had any contact with oak. Whisky is clearly defined as having to be stored in some sort of oak container-- in Scotland the requirement is 3 years minimum, whereas the US allows a "touch-and-go" to be called whisky, although not straight whisky.

Sounds like it's not really beer, either. But it sure as hell ain't whisky.

HST's Dead Carcass:I bought a friend a bottle of Tactical Nuclear Penguin by the same company. It was $60 for a 20 oz bottle. He and some friends cracked it open for hsi birthday, they said it tasted farking nasty!

They are probably shiatheads that got it cold and then drank a swig. Probably don't even know how they are supposed to drink that and then blamed the beer.

I have had very strong beers and you drink them more like you should drink good hard liquor.

hobnail:Well, subby, it doesn't really matter how strong it is, if it hasn't had any contact with oak. Whisky is clearly defined as having to be stored in some sort of oak container-- in Scotland the requirement is 3 years minimum, whereas the US allows a "touch-and-go" to be called whisky, although not straight whisky.

Sounds like it's not really beer, either. But it sure as hell ain't whisky.

It's done like an Eisbock. So in away it is distilled, but pwoplw still consider it a bear. Eisbock's have existed for a very long time.

WhippingBoy:mortimer_ford: WhippingBoy: I used to be in to craft beer. But now, things have gotten so "extreme" it's absolutely absurd, so I've stopped supporting craft breweries.

- If I want a good beer, I'll make it myself- If I buy beer, from now on it's PBR or Old Milwaukee (or the cheapest macro brew then have on tap)

/way to ruin it for everyone, jerks!

There's still good micro brews out there. Just stay away from the stuff named after sexual innuendos.

I realize that there's excellent micros out there. I just refuse to support an industry that's in the process of switching from making good beer to making gimmicks or yet another IPA. Where before it was quality, now marketing and bullshiat are now starting to dominate the craft beer industry.

HST's Dead Carcass:I bought a friend a bottle of Tactical Nuclear Penguin by the same company. It was $60 for a 20 oz bottle. He and some friends cracked it open for hsi birthday, they said it tasted farking nasty!

High gravity beers have to be balanced well. There are many, many beers that taste like shiat at 12%. I've never had anything above 15% that I'd drink again. I can't imagine 65% being any good.

I think this is like the capsacin wars the chiliheads engage in. You reach a point where everything just tastes like shiat, but the percentage is higher so you "win".

EZ Writer:If you like good beer, don't judge them all off of one bad experience. If I had done that, I would have quit after my first beer (Stroh's). Stroh's literally translates to "piss straight from the cock". I'm pretty sure anyway... But I have no evidence to back that up.

I'm not discounting all barleywine ever. I'm just saying that my first experience was unpleasant. I should try another one though.

As for the translation, I have a Ph.D in Latin and you are indeed correct.

Corvus:They are probably shiatheads that got it cold and then drank a swig. Probably don't even know how they are supposed to drink that and then blamed the beer.

I have had very strong beers and you drink them more like you should drink good hard liquor.

They are beer connoisseurs, they drink real beer. I can't recall the last time any of them tilted back something like Coors Light or Bud Light. It's all craft beer, all the time. The friend in question is a scotch snob. I proclaim they do know their alcohol, but still stated Tactical Nuclear Penguin tasted farking nasty. TNP is only 32%, the stuff in the article is almost twice as strong.

"Ice Beer" Characteristics and regulationThe ice beers are typically known for their high alcohol-to-dollar ratio.[1] In some areas, a substantial number of ice beer products are considered to often be bought by "street drunks", and are prohibited for sale.[4] For example, most of the products that are explicitly listed as prohibited in the beer and malt liquor category in the Seattle area are ice beers.[5]

Although "icing" increases alcohol content, most of the United States breweries simply add water back into their beer after the icing process to bring the alcohol content back down to nearly the same levels.[citation needed] Otherwise the beer would qualify as a "beer concentrate," which is illegal under ATF rules governing beer production

WhippingBoy:mortimer_ford: WhippingBoy: I used to be in to craft beer. But now, things have gotten so "extreme" it's absolutely absurd, so I've stopped supporting craft breweries.

- If I want a good beer, I'll make it myself- If I buy beer, from now on it's PBR or Old Milwaukee (or the cheapest macro brew then have on tap)

/way to ruin it for everyone, jerks!

There's still good micro brews out there. Just stay away from the stuff named after sexual innuendos.

I realize that there's excellent micros out there. I just refuse to support an industry that's in the process of switching from making good beer to making gimmicks or yet another IPA. Where before it was quality, now marketing and bullshiat are now starting to dominate the craft beer industry.

HST's Dead Carcass:Corvus: They are probably shiatheads that got it cold and then drank a swig. Probably don't even know how they are supposed to drink that and then blamed the beer.

I have had very strong beers and you drink them more like you should drink good hard liquor.

They are beer connoisseurs, they drink real beer. I can't recall the last time any of them tilted back something like Coors Light or Bud Light. It's all craft beer, all the time. The friend in question is a scotch snob. I proclaim they do know their alcohol, but still stated Tactical Nuclear Penguin tasted farking nasty. TNP is only 32%, the stuff in the article is almost twice as strong.

Yes I know TNP. I have visited Brew Dog brewery on my last beer tour of Europe.

So they are knowledgeable about strong ales? What are their thoughts on beers like Mephistopheles or Samuel Adams Utopias? Do they have experience with Eisbocks too?

spacelord321:EZ Writer: When they become barley wines? Barley wines typically start at 8-12 %... but there are plenty of stouts/IPAs/ales in that range as well.

This is my favorite: Lost Abbey: The Angel's Share Grand Cru

So. Farking. Good.

I used to get down with Weybacher Brewery's Blithering Idiot barly wine at 13%. It's a fitting name. Weybacher brews some good stuff. I also enjoy their Merry Monks Ale at 11%.

Lost too many days to that brewery.

YES, PLEASE! Had my first one just a few days ago. Good stuff. My other favorites are Aventinus, Franziskaner Dunkelweizen, and Tripel Karmeliet. If you haven't tried any of them, you won't be disappointed. Less wealthy, but not disappointed...

WhippingBoy:mortimer_ford: WhippingBoy: I used to be in to craft beer. But now, things have gotten so "extreme" it's absolutely absurd, so I've stopped supporting craft breweries.

- If I want a good beer, I'll make it myself- If I buy beer, from now on it's PBR or Old Milwaukee (or the cheapest macro brew then have on tap)

/way to ruin it for everyone, jerks!

There's still good micro brews out there. Just stay away from the stuff named after sexual innuendos.

I realize that there's excellent micros out there. I just refuse to support an industry that's in the process of switching from making good beer to making gimmicks or yet another IPA. Where before it was quality, now marketing and bullshiat are now starting to dominate the craft beer industry.

I understand that sentiment. Think of it this way. If you support a microbrewery who doesn't cater to these gimmicks, than you're targeting a certain company and rewarding them for their behavior within the industry. They become more competitive against their brethren and are more likely to market according to that success. Don't ask me to name any because I haven't done any research regarding a company's entire catalog. You might have to find some local guys /or gals who don't have a blood contract with AB or Miller.

So anyone know who has the record for highest ABV beer where the final ABV is a result of yeast fermentation only? I think it was Utopias for a bit, but have any other non-distilled challengers appeared?

The ice beers are typically known for their high alcohol-to-dollar ratio.[1] In some areas, a substantial number of ice beer products are considered to often be bought by "street drunks", and are prohibited for sale.[4] For example, most of the products that are explicitly listed as prohibited in the beer and malt liquor category in the Seattle area are ice beers.[5]

Although "icing" increases alcohol content, most of the United States breweries simply add water back into their beer after the icing process to bring the alcohol content back down to nearly the same levels.[citation needed] Otherwise the beer would qualify as a "beer concentrate," which is illegal under ATF rules governing beer production

Looks like the ATF might spoil the party here in the States.

/Armageddon//If you aren't a "street drunk", you will be

Yeah about that. I saw Tactical Nuclear Penguin on sell last Thursday at brew pub. I have also seen it for sell at a couple of liquor stores.